“Those who become addicted to opioids really are in a circumstance where they can no more…get free of the addiction than you could get free of…needing to eat or drink." — Dr. Francis Collins (National Institute of Health Director)
In this guide, we want to make you aware of the dangers that fentanyl and other opioids pose to your teens and give you some practical advice on what you can do to address those dangers.
In this guide, we want to make you aware of the dangers that fentanyl and other opioids pose to your teens and give you some practical advice on what you can do to address those dangers.
"I wanted to turn the noise down on the chaos in my life. I just wanted to feel okay for once." - Kennedy (age 15)
Underage drinking is always dangerous, but maybe not only for the reasons we were warned of growing up. While underage drinking is often primarily associated with car accidents, drug use, partying, and/or legal trouble, Gen Z is susceptible to additional dangers that we as parents might not be thinking of. As an unprecedented number of teens are struggling with anxiety, depression, and loneliness, more and more of them are using alcohol not to have fun, but to cope with and escape from those feelings. Because these emotions are something we all face throughout our lives, developing a habit of dealing with them by drinking can have longer lasting consequences than social drinking.
Underage drinking is always dangerous, but maybe not only for the reasons we were warned of growing up. While underage drinking is often primarily associated with car accidents, drug use, partying, and/or legal trouble, Gen Z is susceptible to additional dangers that we as parents might not be thinking of. As an unprecedented number of teens are struggling with anxiety, depression, and loneliness, more and more of them are using alcohol not to have fun, but to cope with and escape from those feelings. Because these emotions are something we all face throughout our lives, developing a habit of dealing with them by drinking can have longer lasting consequences than social drinking.
"It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." - C.S. Lewis
Although we all know of it, it’s important to be thoughtful in how we decide what to think about it. So rather than allowing our kids’ friends and pop culture to disciple our teens, let’s initiate the conversation and allow them to ask questions. That way, we can encourage them into a deeper understanding of God’s best for their lives and for the world He created.
Although we all know of it, it’s important to be thoughtful in how we decide what to think about it. So rather than allowing our kids’ friends and pop culture to disciple our teens, let’s initiate the conversation and allow them to ask questions. That way, we can encourage them into a deeper understanding of God’s best for their lives and for the world He created.